Charging device and charging pile

Abstract

This disclosure relates to a charging device and a charging pile. The charging device includes a cable and a charging gun. The cable includes a power conductor with a first connecting portion. The charging gun includes a power terminal with a second connecting portion. The charging gun has a heat exchange cavity adapted for the flow of a heat exchange medium. The first connecting portion and the second connecting portion are connected and both are located within the heat exchange cavity. Through this technical solution, the heat exchange medium flows within the heat exchange cavity to directly contact and exchange heat with the first and second connecting portions, thereby cooling the power conductor and the power terminal. The cooling effect is good, meeting the heat dissipation requirements of high-power charging of electric vehicles.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of charging equipment technology, specifically to a charging device and a charging pile. Background Technology

[0002] With the popularization of new energy electric vehicles, the development of fast charging technology is becoming increasingly important. In addition to raising the voltage platform of electric vehicles, increasing charging power also requires a significant increase in charging current to achieve megawatt-level high-power fast charging. Among these components, the power terminal is a key device for connecting the charging gun to the vehicle socket to achieve power transmission. Due to the presence of contact resistance, the heat dissipation of the power terminal is relatively high, becoming a bottleneck restricting the realization of high-power charging for electric vehicles.

[0003] In related technologies, liquid cooling can be used to cool the power terminals to address the heat generated during high-power charging. However, the efficiency of liquid cooling for power terminals is currently low. Utility Model Content

[0004] The purpose of this disclosure is to provide a charging device and a charging pile that can improve the heat dissipation efficiency of the power terminals and meet the heat dissipation requirements during charging, so as to at least partially solve the above-mentioned technical problems.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, according to a first aspect of this disclosure, a charging device is provided, comprising:

[0006] A cable, including a power conductor having a first connection portion; and

[0007] A charging gun includes a power terminal with a second connection portion, and a heat exchange chamber adapted to circulate a heat exchange medium. The first connection portion is connected to the second connection portion and both are located within the heat exchange chamber.

[0008] Optionally, the second connecting portion is connected to one or more of the first connecting portions.

[0009] Optionally, the first connecting portion has a first connecting surface, and the second connecting portion has a second connecting surface, wherein the second connecting surface is fitted and connected to the first connecting surface.

[0010] Optionally, the charging gun includes a housing and a connection structure disposed within the housing, the heat exchange cavity is formed within the connection structure, and the power terminal and the power conductor are respectively inserted into the connection structure, such that the first connection portion and the second connection portion are located within the heat exchange cavity.

[0011] Optionally, the cable includes a heat exchange conduit adapted to exchange heat with the power conductor, the heat exchange conduit being connected to the connection structure to communicate with the heat exchange cavity.

[0012] Optionally, the heat exchange pipeline is sleeved outside the power conductor, and a heat exchange cavity is formed between the heat exchange pipeline and the power conductor. The heat exchange cavity is connected to the heat exchange chamber, and the heat exchange medium in the heat exchange cavity is in direct or indirect contact with the power conductor.

[0013] Optionally, the heat exchange pipeline and the power conductor are arranged side by side.

[0014] Optionally, the heat exchange cavity is connected to at least two of the heat exchange pipes, so that the heat exchange cavity and the at least two of the heat exchange pipes form a circulating heat exchange loop.

[0015] Optionally, the number of heat exchange chambers is multiple, with at least two heat exchange chambers connected together, and the heat exchange chambers are connected to at least one heat exchange pipeline, so that at least two heat exchange chambers and the connected heat exchange pipeline form a circulating heat exchange loop.

[0016] Optionally, the connection structure includes a first base and a second base connected together, the first base and the second base forming the heat exchange cavity, and the power terminal being inserted into the first base.

[0017] In this embodiment, the second substrate has a connector portion with a communicating channel connecting to the heat exchange cavity. The power conductor passes through the communicating channel, and the heat exchange pipe is sleeved on the power conductor and also sleeved on the connector portion. The heat exchange cavity between the heat exchange pipe and the power conductor is connected to the heat exchange cavity through the communicating channel; or...

[0018] The power conductor and the heat exchange pipeline are connected side by side to the second substrate.

[0019] Optionally, the second substrate has a mating portion that inserts into the heat exchange cavity, and a first sealing element is provided between the mating portion and the inner wall of the heat exchange cavity; and / or,

[0020] The first substrate has a connection channel for the power terminal to be inserted, and a second seal is provided between the power terminal and the connection channel.

[0021] Optionally, the number of the connectors may be one or more.

[0022] Optionally, the number of heat exchange cavities is multiple, and the number of second substrates is one or more, with each second substrate and the first substrate forming one or more heat exchange cavities.

[0023] Optionally, the housing has a mounting space to accommodate the connection structure, and a leakage sensor is disposed within the mounting space; and / or,

[0024] A temperature sensor connected to the connection structure is installed within the installation space.

[0025] Optionally, the housing has a mounting channel for inserting the cable to connect to the connection structure, and a third seal is provided between the cable and the mounting channel.

[0026] Optionally, the cable includes a sheath fitted over the power conductor and the heat exchange pipeline, the sheath having a dimension along a first direction that is larger than its dimension along a second direction, wherein the first direction and the second direction are perpendicular to each other.

[0027] Optionally, the cable includes a signal line, and the charging gun includes a signal terminal, which is connected to the signal line via a quick-connect structure.

[0028] Optionally, the charging gun includes a locking structure, which includes a locking rod and a drive mechanism, a sensing switch, a locking element, and an unlocking element. The locking portion of the locking rod extends out of the housing of the charging gun. The locking element is used to unlockably lock the locking rod in a locked position. The unlocking element is used to switch the locking rod from the locked position to the unlocked position. The sensing switch is located between the unlocking element and the locking rod, and the sensing switch is signal-connected to the locking element for unlocking the locking element.

[0029] According to a second aspect of this disclosure, a charging station is provided, including the charging device described above.

[0030] Through the above technical solution, the heat exchange medium flows in the heat exchange cavity to directly contact and exchange heat with the first and second connecting parts, thereby cooling the power conductor and power terminals. The cooling effect is good, which can meet the heat dissipation requirements of electric vehicles during high-power charging.

[0031] Other features and advantages of this disclosure will be described in detail in the following detailed description section. Attached Figure Description

[0032] The accompanying drawings are provided to further illustrate the present disclosure and form part of the specification. They are used together with the following detailed description to explain the present disclosure, but do not constitute a limitation thereof. In the drawings:

[0033] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the charging device provided in an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure;

[0034] Figure 2This is an exploded structural diagram of the charging device provided in an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure;

[0035] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of the charging device provided in an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure;

[0036] Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional view of the connection structure provided in an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure;

[0037] Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional view of the connection structure provided in an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure from another angle;

[0038] Figure 6 This is a cross-sectional view of the cable provided in an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure.

[0039] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0040] 1. Cable; 11. Power conductor; 111. First connecting part; 1111. First connecting surface; 12. Heat exchange pipeline; 13. Heat exchange tube cavity; 14. Sheath; 15. Signal line; 2. Charging gun; 21. Power terminal; 211. Second connecting part; 2111. Second connecting surface; 22. Heat exchange cavity; 23. Housing; 24. Installation space; 25. Installation channel; 26. Signal terminal; 3. Connection structure; 31. First base; 311. Connection channel; 32. Second base; 321. Connector; 322. Butt joint; 4. First seal; 5. Second seal; 6. Leakage sensor; 7. Temperature sensor; 8. Third seal; 9. Quick-connect structure; 10. Locking gun structure; 101. Locking rod; 102. Sensing switch; 103. Locking element; 104. Unlocking element. Detailed Implementation

[0041] The specific embodiments of this disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are for illustration and explanation only and are not intended to limit this disclosure.

[0042] In this disclosure, unless otherwise stated, "inner" and "outer" refer to the interior and exterior of the outline of the corresponding component; "far" and "near" refer to the distance of the corresponding component relative to another component in terms of spatial position. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," etc., used in this disclosure are for distinguishing one element from another and do not have sequential or importance. When the following description relates to the accompanying drawings, unless otherwise indicated, the same numbers in different drawings represent the same or similar elements.

[0043] According to the first aspect of this disclosure, reference to Figures 1 to 6As shown, this disclosure provides a charging device, including a cable 1 and a charging gun 2. The cable 1 includes a power conductor 11, which has a first connection portion 111. The charging gun 2 includes a power terminal 21, which has a second connection portion 211. The charging gun 2 has a heat exchange chamber 22, which is adapted to circulate a heat exchange medium. The first connection portion 111 and the second connection portion 211 are connected and both are located within the heat exchange chamber 22.

[0044] Through the above technical solution, the heat exchange medium flows in the heat exchange cavity 22 to directly contact and exchange heat with the first connection part 111 and the second connection part 211, thereby cooling the power conductor 11 and the power terminal 21. The cooling effect is good, so as to meet the heat dissipation requirements of electric vehicles during high-power charging.

[0045] It is understood that the heat exchange medium needs to directly contact the power terminal 21 and the power conductor 11, and therefore must meet the requirements of insulation, thermal conductivity, and stability. Exemplarily, the heat exchange medium can be, for example, fluorinated liquid, mineral oil, and deionized water. Fluorinated liquid is completely non-conductive, can directly contact the charged parts, has high thermal conductivity, is suitable for rapid heat dissipation, does not corrode metals or plastics, and has strong compatibility. Mineral oil is a natural insulator, economical and practical. Deionized water is one of the most efficient media in liquid cooling. This disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0046] In some embodiments, reference Figures 3 to 5 As shown, the second connection portion 211 can be connected to one or more first connection portions 111. It is understood that increasing the charging power requires not only raising the voltage platform of the electric vehicle but also significantly increasing the charging current to achieve high-power fast charging. Increasing the charging current necessitates a larger cross-sectional area for the power conductor 11. Thus, the power terminal 21 can selectively correspond to one or more power conductors 11. When the charging current demand is high, the total cross-sectional area of ​​the power conductors 11 can be increased by increasing the number of power conductors 11, thereby improving the overall current carrying capacity of the cable 1.

[0047] Since the charging current is distributed across more power conductors 11, the current density in each power conductor 11 is reduced, resulting in less heat generation and helping to lower the temperature of the charging device. Furthermore, with the same total cross-sectional area, multiple power conductors 11 with smaller cross-sectional areas are easier to bend and arrange than a single power conductor 11 with a large cross-sectional area, increasing flexibility during installation and use.

[0048] In some embodiments, reference Figure 4 and Figure 5As shown, the first connecting part 111 has a first connecting surface 1111, and the second connecting part 211 has a second connecting surface 2111. The second connecting surface 2111 is attached to the first connecting surface 1111 to ensure efficient and reliable current transmission between the power conductor 11 and the power terminal 21.

[0049] The second connecting surface 2111 can be connected to the first connecting surface 1111 in any suitable manner. For example, the first connecting portion 111 and the second connecting portion 211 can be pressed together using a special tool (e.g., crimping pliers) to deform under high pressure and achieve tight contact, thus crimping the second connecting surface 2111 onto the first connecting surface 1111. This crimping achieves very low contact resistance, ensuring efficient current conduction. After crimping, the connection between the power terminal 21 and the power conductor 11 is more robust. Alternatively, the second connecting surface 2111 and the first connecting surface 1111 can be welded using arc welding, laser welding, or resistance welding. This creates a welded connection with almost no gaps, providing an optimal current conduction path between the power conductor 11 and the power terminal 21. The welded joint can maintain its physical and electrical properties at high temperatures to meet the long-term use requirements of the charging device. This disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0050] In some embodiments, reference Figures 2 to 5 As shown, the charging gun 2 may include a housing 23 and a connecting structure 3 disposed within the housing 23. The heat exchange cavity 22 is formed within the connecting structure 3. In other words, the heat exchange cavity 22 can be disposed within the housing 23. Thus, the heat exchange cavity 22 can be protected by the housing 23 and the connecting structure 3, and there is no need to separately set up structural components to form the heat exchange cavity 22, thereby reducing the volume of the charging gun 2. At the same time, the space within the housing 23 can be further integrated and optimized.

[0051] In this configuration, the power terminal 21 and the power conductor 11 are respectively inserted into the connection structure 3 so that the first connection part 111 and the second connection part 211 are located in the heat exchange cavity 22. In this way, the connection structure 3 can provide a fixing effect on the power terminal 21 and the power conductor 11, thereby improving the stability of the connection between the first connection part 111 and the second connection part 211 in the heat exchange cavity 22, and thus ensuring the stable transmission of the charging current.

[0052] In some embodiments, reference Figures 2 to 5As shown, the cable 1 may include a heat exchange conduit 12, which is adapted to exchange heat with the power conductor 11. Thus, a heat exchange medium can flow within the heat exchange conduit 12 to cool the power conductor 11. The heat exchange conduit 12 can be connected to the connecting structure 3 to communicate with the heat exchange chamber 22. In this case, the heat exchange medium flowing within the heat exchange conduit 12 can be the aforementioned fluorinated liquid, mineral oil, or deionized water, etc. In this way, the heat exchange medium can be input into the heat exchange chamber 22 through the heat exchange conduit 12, and the heat exchange medium within the heat exchange chamber 22 can also be discharged through the heat exchange conduit 12.

[0053] The heat exchange piping 12 can be arranged in any suitable manner. In some embodiments, refer to Figures 2 to 6 As shown, the heat exchange pipe 12 can be sleeved outside the power conductor 11. At this time, a heat exchange cavity 13 is formed between the heat exchange pipe 12 and the power conductor 11. The heat exchange medium flows in the heat exchange cavity 13 to exchange heat with the power conductor 11 and cool the power conductor 11.

[0054] Understandably, the power conductor 11 can be made of copper, aluminum, or aluminum alloy, etc. Multiple strands of these materials are twisted together to form one or more core strands to create a conductive conductor. This conductor is then wrapped with insulating material to ensure electrical isolation and prevent short circuits. The heat exchange chamber 13 can be connected to the heat exchange cavity 22. In this case, the heat exchange medium within the heat exchange chamber 13 can directly contact the power conductor 11, i.e., the aforementioned conductive conductor, to improve heat exchange capacity. Alternatively, the heat exchange medium within the heat exchange chamber 13 can indirectly contact the power conductor 11, i.e., an insulating material is placed between the heat exchange medium and the aforementioned conductive conductor to improve safety. The above heat exchange cooling method requires high insulation of the heat exchange medium.

[0055] In some other embodiments not shown in the accompanying drawings, the heat exchange pipes 12 may be arranged side-by-side with the power conductor 11. Exemplarily, the heat exchange pipes 12 may be arranged adjacent to or spaced apart from the power conductor 11 to improve the safety of the heat exchange and cooling process. Of course, this disclosure does not limit the number of heat exchange pipes 12, so one power conductor 11 may correspond to multiple heat exchange pipes 12 to enhance the heat dissipation effect. In addition, multiple heat exchange pipes 12 may also be arranged circumferentially around the power conductor 11, and this disclosure does not specifically limit this arrangement.

[0056] In some embodiments, reference Figures 2 to 5As shown, the heat exchange chamber 22 can be connected to at least two heat exchange pipes 12, so that the heat exchange chamber 22 and the at least two heat exchange pipes 12 form a circulating heat exchange loop. For example, the number of heat exchange pipes 12 can be set to two. Therefore, the heat exchange medium can be transported into the heat exchange chamber 22 through one of the heat exchange pipes 12, and the heat exchange medium in the heat exchange chamber 22 can be discharged through the other heat exchange pipe 12. In this way, a circulating loop can be formed so that the heat exchange medium in the heat exchange chamber 22 and the heat exchange pipes 12 can be replaced to ensure the heat exchange effect on the power terminal 21 and the power conductor 11.

[0057] Alternatively, the number of heat exchange pipes 12 can be set to multiple. In this case, some of the heat exchange pipes 12 can be used to transport the heat exchange medium into the heat exchange chamber 22, and the heat exchange medium in the heat exchange chamber 22 can be discharged through other heat exchange pipes 12 to provide a certain degree of redundancy. That is, if some of the heat exchange pipes 12 become blocked, the remaining heat exchange pipes 12 can still be used normally to ensure the normal circulation of the heat exchange medium, thereby enhancing the reliability and safety of the circulation loop.

[0058] In some embodiments, reference Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the number of heat exchange chambers 22 can be multiple, and thus the number of power terminals 21 can also be set to multiple. By setting multiple power terminals 21, a larger current can be transmitted in parallel without significantly increasing the size of each individual terminal. This allows the charging gun 2 to support higher power fast charging without sacrificing flexibility. Each power terminal 21 shares a portion of the total current, reducing the current density at a single contact point with the power conductor 11, reducing heat generation and energy loss, and improving overall charging efficiency.

[0059] In one embodiment, at least two heat exchange chambers 22 are connected to each other, and the heat exchange chambers 22 are connected to at least one heat exchange pipe 12, so that the at least two heat exchange chambers 22 and the connected heat exchange pipe 12 form a circulating heat exchange loop. Exemplarily, there may be two heat exchange chambers 22, each connected to one heat exchange pipe 12. In this way, the heat exchange medium can be input into one heat exchange chamber 22 through the heat exchange pipe 12, and then flow to the other heat exchange chamber 22, and finally be discharged through the heat exchange pipe 12 connected to that heat exchange chamber 22. Of course, the number of heat exchange chambers 22 may also be multiple, and all of the multiple heat exchange chambers 22 may be connected, or some of the multiple heat exchange chambers 22 may be connected. This disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0060] In the embodiments provided in this disclosure, reference is made to Figure 4 and Figure 5As shown, the charging gun 2 has two power terminals 21 and two heat exchange chambers 22 corresponding to the two power terminals 21. The two heat exchange chambers 22 are not connected. Each heat exchange chamber 22 is connected to two heat exchange pipes 12, so that each heat exchange chamber 22 and the corresponding two heat exchange pipes 12 form a circulation loop. This allows a single circulation loop to cool a single power terminal 21, thereby improving cooling efficiency.

[0061] In some embodiments, reference Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the connection structure 3 may include a first base 31 and a second base 32 connected to each other. The first base 31 and the second base 32 form a heat exchange cavity 22. The power terminal 21 is inserted into the first base 31. At this time, the first connecting part 111 extends into the heat exchange cavity 22. Then, the power terminal 21 can be fixed to the first base 31 by fasteners such as positioning buckles.

[0062] The second substrate 32 may have a connector 321, which has a connecting channel to the heat exchange cavity 22. The power conductor 11 passes through the connecting channel, meaning the power conductor 11 can pass through the connecting channel to connect to the power terminal 21. Furthermore, the heat exchange pipe 12 can be sleeved on the power conductor 11 and also sleeved on the connector 321. Thus, the heat exchange cavity 13 between the heat exchange pipe 12 and the power conductor 11 is connected to the heat exchange cavity 22 through the connecting channel, meaning the heat exchange medium can pass through the connecting channel to enter the heat exchange cavity 22.

[0063] Furthermore, the inclusion of the heat exchange pipe 12 on the connector 321 in this disclosure is merely exemplary, so as to secure and fasten the heat exchange pipe 12 to the connector 321 by means of fasteners such as snap-fit. In some other possible alternative embodiments not shown in the drawings, the heat exchange pipe 12 may also be inserted through the connecting channel, but this disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0064] It is understood that the power conductor 11 and the heat exchange pipe 12 can also be arranged side-by-side as described above. Therefore, in this case, the power conductor 11 and the heat exchange pipe 12 can be connected side-by-side to the second base 32. The number of joints 321 can be one or more. For example, the power conductor 11 can be arranged adjacent to and fixed to the heat exchange pipe 12, thus the number of joints 321 can be one. In this case, the power conductor 11 and the heat exchange pipe 12 can be connected to the same joint 321. Alternatively, the number of joints 321 can be set to a one-to-one correspondence between the power conductor 11 and the heat exchange pipe 12. That is, each power conductor 11 can be connected to one joint 321 to pass through a connecting channel and enter the heat exchange chamber 22, and each heat exchange pipe 12 can be connected to one joint 321 so that the heat exchange medium can pass through the connecting channel and enter the heat exchange chamber 22.

[0065] Of course, if the heat exchange pipe 12 is sleeved on the power conductor 11 and sleeved on the connector 321, the number of connectors 321 can also be set to one or more, so that one or more heat exchange pipes 12 can be connected accordingly. This disclosure does not make a specific limitation in this regard.

[0066] In some embodiments, reference Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the second substrate 32 may have a mating portion 322 that inserts into the heat exchange cavity 22, thereby sealing the heat exchange cavity 22. A connecting channel 311 is formed on the second substrate 32 for the power conductor 11 and the heat exchange medium to enter the heat exchange cavity 22. Furthermore, a first sealing element 4 may be provided between the mating portion 322 and the inner wall of the heat exchange cavity 22 to prevent leakage of the heat exchange medium. The mating portion 322 can be connected to the first substrate 31 by any suitable method, such as threaded connection or welding; this disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0067] Furthermore, the first base 31 may have a connection channel 311 for inserting the power terminal 21, and a second seal 5 is provided between the power terminal 21 and the connection channel 311. Thus, a portion of the power terminal 21 can pass through the connection channel 311 so that the first connection portion 111 is placed within the receiving cavity, and the heat exchange cavity 22 can also be sealed by the power terminal 21. Similarly, the second seal 5 can be used to prevent leakage of the heat exchange medium. The power terminal 21 can then be fixed to the first base 31 by fasteners such as positioning clips.

[0068] It is understood that the first seal 4 and the second seal 5 may be constructed with the same or different structures, such as sealing rings or sealing rings, and this disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0069] In some embodiments, reference Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the number of heat exchange chambers 22 can be multiple, and thus the number of power terminals 21 can also be set to multiple. By setting multiple power terminals 21, a larger current can be transmitted in parallel without significantly increasing the size of each individual terminal. This allows the charging gun 2 to support higher power fast charging without sacrificing flexibility. Each power terminal 21 shares a portion of the total current, reducing the current density at a single contact point with the power conductor 11, reducing heat generation and energy loss, and improving overall charging efficiency.

[0070] At this time, the number of second substrates 32 can be one or more, and each second substrate 32 and the first substrate 31 form one or more heat exchange cavities 22. Exemplarily, the number of second substrates 32 can be set to one, and the number of connectors 321 provided on the second substrate 32 can be multiple, so that the power conductor 11 and the heat exchange medium can be connected to the heat exchange cavity 22 through the communication channels provided on the connectors 321. Alternatively, the number of second substrates 32 can be set to multiple corresponding to one heat exchange cavity 22, and each second substrate 32 can be provided with one or more connectors 321. This disclosure does not specifically limit this.

[0071] In some embodiments, reference Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the housing 23 may have an installation space 24 to accommodate the connecting structure 3. A leakage sensor 6 is installed within the installation space 24, thus enabling the leakage sensor 6 to detect whether there is a leak of heat exchange medium within the installation space 24. For example, refer to... Figure 3 As shown in the diagram, the leakage sensor 6 is located at the bottom of the installation space 24. At this time, the charging gun 2 is in normal use (the charging gun 2 is plugged into the vehicle) or standby (the charging gun 2 is plugged into the charging pile). If the heat exchange medium in the heat exchange chamber 22 or the heat exchange medium in the heat exchange pipeline 12 leaks, it will flow to the bottom of the installation space 24 under the action of gravity. Therefore, the leakage sensor 6 can detect the leakage of the heat exchange medium in a timely manner, and the detection sensitivity is high.

[0072] It is understood that the leakage sensor 6 can be connected to the bottom inner wall of the housing 23 by means of adhesive or snap-fit. In addition, the leakage sensor 6 can be connected to an alarm, such as a buzzer alarm or a warning light, and the alarm can be connected to the charging gun 2 or the charging station. This disclosure does not make any specific limitations in this regard.

[0073] In addition, a temperature sensor 7 connected to the connection structure 3 can be installed in the installation space 24. In this way, the temperature sensor 7 can detect the temperature in the heat exchange cavity 22 and adjust the flow rate and flow speed of the heat exchange medium in a timely manner. For example, when the temperature sensor 7 detects that the temperature of the heat exchange cavity 22 is high or continuously rising, the heat dissipation effect on the power conductor 11 and the power terminal 21 can be ensured by increasing the flow rate and adjusting the flow speed of the heat exchange medium.

[0074] It is understood that the heat exchange medium can flow in the heat exchange pipeline 12 and the heat exchange chamber 22 under the drive of the pump structure. The temperature sensor 7 can be connected to the controller, and the controller can then control the pump structure to adjust the flow rate and flow speed of the heat exchange medium. The controller can be, for example, a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) or a PAC (Programmable Automation Controller), etc., and this disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0075] In some embodiments, reference Figure 3 As shown, the housing 23 may have an installation channel 25 for inserting the cable 1 to connect to the connection structure 3, and a third seal 8 may be provided between the cable 1 and the installation channel 25. Thus, if the heat exchange medium leaks into the installation space 24, the third seal 8 can prevent the heat exchange medium from leaking outward from the installation channel 25, reducing the possibility that the leakage sensor 6 will fail to detect leaks originating from the heat exchange chamber 22 or the heat exchange pipeline 12, and the charging process will continue normally, thus improving the safety of the charging process.

[0076] It is understood that the third seal 8 can be constructed as a sealing ring or sealing ring, etc., and this disclosure does not specifically limit it.

[0077] In some embodiments, reference Figure 6 As shown, the cable 1 may include a sheath 14 that is sleeved over the power conductor 11 and the heat exchange conduit 12. The sheath 14 is usually set as the outermost layer of the cable 1, and therefore the sheath 14 is usually made of abrasion-resistant and chemically resistant materials, such as thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) or polyurethane (PU), to provide physical protection for the power conductor 11 and the heat exchange conduit 12, while enhancing the overall durability of the cable 1 and making it suitable for outdoor use.

[0078] In this embodiment, the dimension of the sheath 14 along the first direction is larger than the dimension along the second direction, and the first and second directions are perpendicular to each other. (Reference) Figure 6 As shown in the diagram, the X direction is the first direction and the Y direction is the second direction. In this way, the cross-section of cable 1 perpendicular to the first and second directions is flat. When cable 1 is in a state that requires bending, such as when it is suspended or stored, it will naturally bend along the second direction to reduce the bending radius of cable 1, reduce the space occupied by cable 1 after bending, reduce stress concentration, and improve the bending performance of cable 1. In addition, it can also optimize the distribution of cable conductors to optimize current distribution and reduce the risk of hot spots.

[0079] In some embodiments, reference Figure 2 and Figure 6As shown, cable 1 includes a signal line 15, which enables bidirectional communication between the electric vehicle and charging equipment (e.g., a charging station) for exchanging information, including battery status and charging requirements. Furthermore, the signal line 15 can transmit information in real time regarding charging progress, voltage and current levels, and any potential faults or warnings. Simultaneously, the signal line 15 can also relay commands from the user interface or automatic control system to start or stop charging.

[0080] In the exemplary embodiments provided in this disclosure, such as Figure 6 As shown, the heat exchange pipe 12 sleeved on the power conductor 11 can be arranged side by side with the signal line 15 along the first direction, so that the cable 1 is easy to bend and the bending radius of the cable 1 is reduced.

[0081] The charging gun 2 includes a signal terminal 26, which is a reliable mechanical interface for connecting the aforementioned signal line 15. This ensures that the signal line 15 can be securely connected to the charging gun 2 and maintain good contact performance even after multiple insertion and removal operations. The signal terminal 26 can be connected to the signal line 15 via a quick-connect structure 9. This quick-connect structure 9 allows for rapid connection of the signal terminal 26 to the signal line 15, simplifying the operation process. Furthermore, the high-quality quick-connect structure 9 provides a stable and reliable electrical connection, ensuring the continuity and accuracy of signal transmission and reducing communication failures caused by poor contact. If maintenance or component replacement is required, the quick-connect structure 9 allows technicians to quickly disassemble the relevant components, reducing maintenance time and costs.

[0082] It is understood that the quick-connect structure 9 can use existing structures, including male and female connectors, locking mechanisms, and seals. The male connector typically contains one or more metal pins responsible for electrical connection. The female connector contains a corresponding socket for receiving the male connector's pins and establishing an electrical connection. The locking mechanism ensures that the male and female connectors do not accidentally separate after connection, providing additional safety. The seals protect the connection points from external environmental influences such as dust and impurities, improving the protection level. Additionally, guide devices and housings are also included, which will not be described in detail here.

[0083] In some embodiments, reference Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the charging gun 2 may include a locking structure 10, which may include a locking rod 101, a sensing switch 102, a locking member 103, and an unlocking member 104. The locking part of the locking rod 101 extends out of the housing 23 of the charging gun 2 to engage with the charging interface on the charging pile or vehicle. The locking part includes a bending structure, so the charging gun 2 can be engaged with the groove on the charging interface or charging pile through the bending structure to connect the charging gun 2 to the vehicle or charging pile.

[0084] Furthermore, the locking member 103 is used to unlockably lock the locking lever 101 in the locked position, and the unlocking member 104 is used to switch the locking lever 101 from the locked position to the unlocked position. The sensing switch 102 is located between the unlocking member 104 and the locking lever 101, and the sensing switch 102 is signal-connected to the locking member 103 for unlocking the locking member 103. Thus, when the charging gun 2 is connected to the vehicle or charging pile, the locking lever 101 is in the locked position. If it is necessary to remove the charging gun 2 from the vehicle or charging pile, the locking lever 101 can be switched from the locked position to the unlocked position by the unlocking member 104. At this time, the locking part of the locking lever 101 is disengaged from the charging port on the charging pile or vehicle. The unlocking component 104 may include an unlocking button connected to the locking lever 101. The unlocking button presses against the sensing switch 102. At this time, the sensing switch 102 signals the locking component 103 so that the locking component 103 unlocks the locking lever 101. The locking lever 101 can rotate to switch from the locked position to the unlocked position, and the locking part of the locking lever 101 is disengaged from the charging pile or the charging interface on the vehicle.

[0085] The unlock button then rebounds to disengage from the inductive switch. The locking mechanism 10 may also include a return spring, which can be connected between the housing 23 of the charging gun 2 and the unlock button to drive the unlock button to rebound. The locking member 103 locks the locking rod 101 so that the locking rod 101 rotates from the unlock position to the locked position, allowing the locking rod 101 to engage with the charging interface or charging station. The locking member 103 may include an electromagnetic structure, comprising an electromagnet and an armature. One of the electromagnet and the armature can be connected to the locking rod 101, and the other can be connected to the housing 23 of the charging gun 2. Thus, when the locking rod 101 needs to be unlocked, the unlock button presses against the inductive switch, the inductive switch signal connects to the electromagnet to de-energize it, and the locking rod 101 can rotate to switch from the locked position to the unlocked position. When the locking rod 101 needs to be locked, the unlock button disengages from the inductive switch, the inductive switch signal connects to the electromagnet to energize it, the electromagnet and the armature move towards each other, and the locking rod 101 rotates from the unlocked position to the locked position. This disclosure is not limited to this.

[0086] According to a second aspect of this disclosure, a charging pile is provided, including the charging device described above. The charging pile has all the beneficial effects of the charging device described above, which will not be repeated here. In addition, the charging pile can be a DC charging pile or an AC charging pile, and this disclosure does not specifically limit it.

[0087] The preferred embodiments of this disclosure have been described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, this disclosure is not limited to the specific details of the above embodiments. Within the scope of the technical concept of this disclosure, various simple modifications can be made to the technical solutions of this disclosure, and these simple modifications all fall within the protection scope of this disclosure.

[0088] It should also be noted that the various specific technical features described in the above specific embodiments can be combined in any suitable manner without contradiction. In order to avoid unnecessary repetition, this disclosure will not describe the various possible combinations separately.

[0089] Furthermore, various different embodiments of this disclosure can be combined in any way, as long as they do not violate the spirit of this disclosure, they should also be regarded as the content disclosed in this disclosure.

Claims

1. A charging device, characterized in that, include: A cable, including a power conductor having a first connection portion; and A charging gun includes a power terminal with a second connection portion, and a heat exchange chamber adapted to circulate a heat exchange medium. The first connection portion is connected to the second connection portion and both are located within the heat exchange chamber.

2. The charging device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second connecting part is connected to one or more of the first connecting parts.

3. The charging device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first connecting part has a first connecting surface, and the second connecting part has a second connecting surface, which is attached to the first connecting surface.

4. The charging device according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The charging gun includes a housing and a connecting structure disposed within the housing. The heat exchange cavity is formed within the connecting structure. The power terminal and the power conductor are respectively inserted into the connecting structure, such that the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion are located within the heat exchange cavity.

5. The charging device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The cable includes a heat exchange conduit adapted to exchange heat with the power conductor, the heat exchange conduit being connected to the connection structure to communicate with the heat exchange cavity.

6. The charging device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The heat exchange pipe is sleeved outside the power conductor, and a heat exchange cavity is formed between the heat exchange pipe and the power conductor. The heat exchange cavity is connected to the heat exchange chamber, and the heat exchange medium in the heat exchange cavity is in direct or indirect contact with the power conductor.

7. The charging device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The heat exchange pipeline and the power conductor are arranged side by side.

8. The charging device according to any one of claims 5-7, characterized in that, The heat exchange cavity is connected to at least two of the heat exchange pipes, so that the heat exchange cavity and the at least two of the heat exchange pipes form a circulating heat exchange loop.

9. The charging device according to any one of claims 5-7, characterized in that, The number of heat exchange chambers is multiple, and at least two of the heat exchange chambers are connected to each other. The heat exchange chambers are connected to at least one of the heat exchange pipelines, so that at least two of the heat exchange chambers and the connected heat exchange pipelines form a circulating heat exchange loop.

10. The charging device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The connection structure includes a first base and a second base connected together, the first base and the second base forming the heat exchange cavity, and the power terminal being inserted into the first base. In this embodiment, the second substrate has a connector portion with a communicating channel connecting to the heat exchange cavity. The power conductor passes through the communicating channel, and the heat exchange pipe is sleeved on the power conductor and also sleeved on the connector portion. The heat exchange cavity between the heat exchange pipe and the power conductor is connected to the heat exchange cavity through the communicating channel; or... The power conductor and the heat exchange pipeline are connected side by side to the second substrate.

11. The charging device according to claim 10, characterized in that, The second substrate has a mating portion that inserts into the heat exchange cavity, and a first sealing element is provided between the mating portion and the inner wall of the heat exchange cavity; and / or, The first substrate has a connection channel for the power terminal to be inserted, and a second seal is provided between the power terminal and the connection channel.

12. The charging device according to claim 10, characterized in that, The number of the connectors is one or more.

13. The charging device according to claim 10, characterized in that, The number of heat exchange cavities is multiple, and the number of second substrates is one or more, with each second substrate and the first substrate forming one or more heat exchange cavities.

14. The charging device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The housing has an installation space to accommodate the connection structure, and a leakage sensor is disposed within the installation space; and / or, A temperature sensor connected to the connection structure is installed within the installation space.

15. The charging device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The housing has a mounting channel for inserting the cable to connect to the connection structure, and a third seal is provided between the cable and the mounting channel.

16. The charging device according to any one of claims 5-7, characterized in that, The cable includes a sheath that is sleeved over the power conductor and the heat exchange pipeline, wherein the dimension of the sheath along a first direction is greater than the dimension along a second direction, wherein the first direction and the second direction are perpendicular to each other.

17. The charging device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cable includes a signal line, and the charging gun includes a signal terminal, which is connected to the signal line via a quick-connect structure.

18. The charging device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The charging gun includes a locking structure, which includes a locking rod, a sensing switch, a locking element, and an unlocking element. The locking part of the locking rod extends out of the housing of the charging gun. The locking element is used to unlockably lock the locking rod in the locked position. The unlocking element is used to switch the locking rod from the locked position to the unlocked position. The sensing switch is located between the unlocking element and the locking rod. The sensing switch is signal-connected to the locking element for unlocking the locking element.

19. A charging pile, characterized in that, The charging device includes any one of claims 1-18.

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